Suspension device for document-files.



Nu. 664,755. Patented Dec. 25, |900.

l D. E. HUNTER. SUSPENSION DEVICE FR DOCUMENT FILES.

(Application filed July 19, 1900.)

ms Normas frans cu. worauwa wsnmawn, D c

I UNITED :STATES PATENT OFFICE;

'DAVID E. HUNTER, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE LIBRARY BUREAU, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR DOCUMENT-FILES.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent N o. 664,755, dated December 25, 1900.

I Application led July 19.1900. Serial No. 24,124. (No model.) I

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID E. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cam bridge,coun ty of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Suspension Devices for Document-Files, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specication, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

It is customary in large oices to have a large number of files or record-holders carried in a cabinet and normally maintained therein in position to be examined, but not removed, the les usually being capable of sliding in and out of the compartments suciently to be turned down in position for inspection and being retained therein by cooperating plates which constitute suspension devices, as I have herein termed them; and my present invention relates to improvements therein whereby the cost of manufacture is reduced and the operation thereof improved and simplified.

The details of construction and operation of my invention will be pointed out in the following description, and the invention will be more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l represents in side elevation and partly in section a usual file provided with my suspension attachment shown in operative relation, the suspended position of the file being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail thereof, taken on lines 2 2, Figs. l and Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the top surface of the supportingshelf or cabinet seen from below.

It will be understood that the shelf ct ofthe cabinet and the file b, comprising a front b, side rails b2, and bottom b3, may be of any usual or preferred kind adapted to hold papers, cards, or other tile matter. The bottom b3 is longitudinally recessed along its under side, being provided with two grooves c c', the latter being preferably wider than the former, these grooves being separated by a shallow tongue or rib c2, on which is secured a plate c3, which projects at one side thereof to constitute a retaining-track.

At the point which it is desired shall consti= tute the tu rning-point, or point of suspension of the iile, I drive in from the edge of the bottom opposite steel pins c4,which project across the grooves c c' and constitute a preferred form of stops, although it will be understood that unless otherwise specified in the claims I am not limited thereto.

Coperating with the features thus far described is a plate c5, adapted to be adjustably secured by screws or other means c6 to the top of the shelf a, along which the file slides. This plate has opposite tongues o7, which serve to guide and brace the general mechanism, said tongues being upturned at their extremities to constitute suspension-hooks om, which embrace the stops c4at proper times and sustainthe file as the latter 'is turned thereon. Between the tongues c7 is a finger cs, which is bent upwardly adjacent the body of the plate c5, and thence extends horizontally, being provided at its outer end with a lateral projection 09, which slides along the upper surface of the track c3, as clearly shown in Figs. 'l and 2, and constitutes a retaining device, preventing the unauthorized removal of a le when pulled outwardly.

As already stated, I am aware that it is not new to have a lile suspended in the general manner herein shown and described, and I do not, therefore, make any broad claims thereto, inasmuch as my present invention is an improvement directed to simplifying the construction and rendering it strong and accurate in its operation.

The separated tongues c7, which support the weight of the file, it will be observed, are not only widely separated,but extend straight out in longitudinal line with the body of the plate c5, thereby preventing any liability to twist or break and also providing at the edges' of the plate a guide cooperating with the grooves in the file, and the provision of these combined guides and braces at the opposite sides gives double strength over any device which might have provision only for a central suspension engagement. Moreover, the provision of the track c3 is exceedingly simple as well as effectual, as it permits me to secure all the retention necessary by a single center guide or track, and the latter, more- IOO over,- consists simply of a at strip of metal, which does no t requireeven to be struck-out to any Ispecial shape; also, the round steelV stops c4 give great strength and permit a smooth free pivotal action and allow the parts to move smoothly in their engagement;

:Various minor 'changes may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Lett ers Patent, is-

l. A device of the kind described, comprising a file having opposite grooves, an intermediate guide-track, and pivotal stops eX- tending into said grooves, combined withY a plate having opposite suspension-tongues and an intermediate retaining device for engaging said track.

2. In a device of the kind described, a

plate having at its opposite sides `hook-like` devices and'Y an intermediate finger, com-f bined'with ale havinga track to be engaged on its upper side by said nger, and pivotal stops to be engaged on their under sides by 'said hooks.

3. In a device of the. kind described, a fiile having grooves in its bottom, roiind pins eX- Y tending into said grooves, and a plate pro-Y Y j 

